MARSHALL - In their first game of the 2012 U.S. Bank Mid-Summer Classic, the Marshall Mudcats mashed their way to 12 hits in an 8-4 win Friday night over Waterloo-Valley at Legion Field.
Four of the Mudcats' eight runs came during the third inning. Down 2-0 at the time, Marshall began its rally off of a Michael Dannahar single. Mason Schnaible followed with one of his three hits on the night. A Matt Campion walk loaded the bases for the Mudcats. Riley Carpenter's single drove in Dannahar and pitcher Aaron Mathiowetz helped his own cause with a two RBI single. Leo Zerr's double off the fence scored Carpenter for the inning's fourth run.
Mudcats coach Chace Pollock was certainly pleased with his team's batting, especially Campion, Carpenter, Schnaible and Zerr.
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Photo by Travis Andries
Mudcats shortstop Leo Zerr applies a tag at second base on a Waterloo-Valley baserunner Friday during opening-day action of the U.S. Bank Mid-Summer Classic wood bat tournament at Legion Field in Marshall.
"Carpenter had a couple big hits for us. Campion had a couple big doubles," Pollock said. "Zerr hit one off the fence. Schnaible had a triple and a double, he almost hit for the cycle."
Schnaible's aforementioned triple came with one out in the fourth inning. The Mudcats' catcher scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Ben Sanders to push Marshall's lead to 5-2.
After allowing two runs in the fifth inning, the Mudcats added three of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Schnaible and Campion each had RBI doubles, while Carpenter drove in Campion with his second RBI single of the evening. Schnaible, Carpenter, and Campion finished the game a combined 8-for-11 with six runs scored, four RBIs, and four extra-base hits.
Despite having two RBIs for Marshall, the best part of the night for Marshall starting pitcher Aaron Mathiowetz was being back on the mound.
"He hasn't thrown in a month," Pollock said. "When was the last time he's thrown seven innings? Today was about Aaron getting a chance to work.
"It wasn't his best stuff, but if you can win with not your best stuff, that's a good game."
Mathiowetz earned the win for the Mudcats, striking out six over seven innings while allowing four runs on just four hits. Mathiowetz had his share of help on the night, as well.
Carpenter's outfield assist from center field preserved the Mudcats' lead and ended the Waterloo-Valley threat in the fifth inning. Carpenter gathered an Austin Hill single in center field and fired a rocket back to the infield. His throw was gathered by Schnaible at the plate and the tag was applied. Runner out. Inning over.
"That outfield assist was big for us," Pollock said. "It got us out of an inning that could have been a little bit bigger and [Carpenter] threw it right on the money.
"He's done that his whole career for us. He's always been right where he needs to be."
The Mudcats now shift their focus to two games today, against Elk River at 1 p.m. and against Coon Rapids at 7 p.m. Depending on those results, Marshall will play at either 9 or 11 a.m. Sunday.
NOTES: The other games Friday saw Elk River defeat Albany 5-1 to open the Mid-Summer Classic, while Coon Rapids claimed an 11-0 victory over Metro Fargo.
WV101 020 0-4 4 2
M004 103 X-8 12 1
M- Aaron Mathiowetz. WV-Colby Burke . WP-Mathiowetz. LP-Burke. 3B: M-Mason Schnaible. 2B: M-Schnaible, Matt Campion, Riley Carpenter, Leo Zerr.